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diagonal

Syllabification: (di·ag·o·nal)
Pronunciation: /dīˈagənl/
(abbreviation: diag.)
Translate diagonal | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of diagonal

adjective

  • (of a straight line) joining two opposite corners of a square, rectangle, or other straight-sided shape.
  • (of a line) straight and at an angle; slanting:a tie with diagonal stripes

noun

  • a straight line joining two opposite corners of a square, rectangle, or other straight-sided shape.
  • Mathematics the set of elements of a matrix that lie on a line joining two opposite corners.
  • a slanting straight pattern or line:the bars of light made diagonals across the entrance tiles can be laid on the diagonal
  • Chess a slanting row of squares whose color is the same.

Origin:

mid 16th century: from Latin diagonalis, from Greek diagōnios 'from angle to angle', from dia 'through' + gōnia 'angle'

diagonal in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of diagonal in the British & World English dictionary

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